"Aaa-Ha moment? Imperfect and Preterit help!

Question

I've been trying to wrap my head around the imperfect and the preterit (how and when to use them). Well, I recently had a "Aaa-ha" moment (well I hope I did!) and I just need know if I'm on the right track in my thinking.

Example: Comer-to eat

Present-Como-I eat

Imperfect-Comía- I was eating -Am I right to assume that I should add a "was" in there? Like I "was" in the process of doing the action, and if so do I do this with all imperfects? (ex. hablaba- I was talking)

Preterit- Comí- I ate - Is it right to assume that this is the finished task and the process is not longer going on?

THIS IS SO CONFUSING FOR ME!!!! LOL

Any help would be appreciated,

                                                      Thanks in advance, 
                                                                     Mary

Answer 1

Well, you're correct in that statement. Where comí is preterite meaning "I ate." But yes, I think of the imperfect as the "was-ing" form, if that helps.

Thank you very much! - ChicaLocaMary, Jan 9, 2012